A.N. So apparently people are still reading this story? I guess that another chapter is called for. As always, if I get encouragement, I'll write. Of course, this doesn't apply to the lemon fics, but hey, here you go!
Elsa felt herself gripping the edge of her bed tightly.
She could no longer hide her pregnancy. The stares she had received sent a flush of rage down her spine. It was not her fault- her councilors should have known that. She had been a victim of a conspiracy by the Westerguards. First, they had tricked her into believing that her sister was in mortal peril, then they had tricked her into freeing Hans, then, lastly, they had tricked her into thinking that any of them could have turned out as anything better than a lying, murdering, two-faced rapist.
Hans.
He had lead her on well enough. At some point, she felt comfortable enough with him to see him as a sort of companion, someone she could talk to, understand. But she also realized that, no matter what she did, he kept her under his thumb.
"I had no choice," She whispered to her belly. Their child, and she knew full well whose child it was, would grow up without a father. There was simply no way for Hans to return. Baragor had made it clear that someone had to die, and that the Black Spot Pirates hated Hans more than anyone else. He also made it clear that he could not expect Elsa to escape, but she had managed to do that all on her own. With the crew distracted by the killer prince, Elsa had managed to escape onto the boat he had left.
Her stomach twisted, and Elsa grabbed even harder.
Without Hans around, her relationship with the Southern Isles had gotten far more complicated. She had written the queen to let her know what had happened.
"Little monster," A voice crowed, "just like his father..."
Elsa let out a pained breath, then breathed in and out quickly, "Actually, I think this'll be a girl."
"No," Growled the queen of the Southern Isles, "It's a boy. There's just too many men on this planet, girl. Raping, thieving, hated men. They destroy us, inside and out. You should smother it when its born. That way you won't have to deal with it when he's too big to handle."
Not for the first time, Elsa found herself sick from the mindset of the Westerguards, "Not my child," She rubbed her bloating belly, "I'll raise her right- and I'll tell her she'll be a queen."
The other woman laughed, "And what will you tell her about her father?"
Elsa looked about nervously. She had not said anything to anyone about what had happened. As far as the public was aware, Hans had saved his queen from the Black Spot pirates, sacrificing himself in her stead. A few weeks after her escape, she had received word that the queen of the Southern Isles would retroactively grant them a marriage, solidifying Arrendelle's official place in the Southern Isles' court, and granting her child legitimacy.
"I'll tell her he was very brave," Her child was soothed by her voice, "That he loved her very much, and that..." Elsa found her face flush red, "I wish things had been different."
A harsh bark met her ears.
Her betrayal of Hans had seemed so simple at the time. She would, at long last, be free of the man that had caged her, used her sexually, and impregnated her. But now, all alone, with only the spite of her mother-in-law, Elsa found herself wishing Hans, with those eyes filled with wonder, was there, telling her he loved her, telling her everything would be okay.
Telling her he forgave her.
"Well, my queen, I sure do hope for your sake things aren't different at all. Hans... was an angry little man. They all are. If there was even the slightest of chances that he has survived," She leaned in close, her scarred face reflecting the scar across Elsa's, "You, and your babe, have none."
Elsa swallowed hard, clutching the silk shirt in her hands. Hans' silk shirt. It was covered in his blood. He wasn't coming back. he couldn't. She was alone. Her and her daughter.
Elsa clutched it to her chest.
There was nothing else to do. She had turned against him. Hans had lusted for her like a madman. He spent hours of time sitting in a cell, driving himself insane, wanting her body, and nothing else. And then, then he had gotten it. He had enjoyed her body as his servant, forcing her to offer him her body. And, for some reason she did not quite understand, gave her her role as leader in Arrendelle back. It had confused her. What was his ulterior motive? Trick her into thinking he had changed? That he was truly trustworthy?
...It was a good thing that she knew he wasn't EVER coming back.
